Professional Soldiers’ State Service Bill up for first reading in SVK Parliament
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- Date: 12.06.2015
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The new Professional Soldiers’ State Service Bill, the main priority of which is to make active duty service more attractive and set the conditions for turning the military profession into a life-long career, is expected to receive the first reading by the general assembly of the SVK National Council as early as this week. The Bill is bringing a decisive change in the personnel area. This is evidenced by the abolition of the hugely unpopular competitive selection and the introduction of new rules for career progression of service personnel.
“It would have been a non-standard practice, if we had submitted a bill without the new Chief of the General Staff reviewing it. Formulating a new, high quality amendment act has greatly mattered to us and that’s why we’ve created a sufficient space for broader debate. The outcome is a bill in agreement with service personnel and the General Staff. It wouldn’t be in my interest to submit a bill without the support of the opposition parties. Of course, this still requires agreeing on common grounds, that’s why soldiers are invited to explain their requirements comprehensibly to the public and Members of Parliament,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč.
The bill introduces new types of active duty service – Permanent State Service and Short-Term State Service. Service personnel on active duty in the Temporary State Service may be transferred to the Permanent State Service upon completion of 17 years of service. There, they will continue to serve until the age of 55. Moreover, the bill incorporates a new military pay scale chart, enhanced by two pay grades. As a result, increases in military salaries will be distributed over an extended period of time. With this move, the SVK MOD is aiming to motivate service members to remain on active duty. However, the Armed Forces will not keep service personnel who fail to demonstrate a strong commitment. After meeting the eligibility for military retirement pay, service members will be entitled to leave the military upon request and the Service Office will be obliged to approve of their request.
Also under consideration is the option to adjust the benefits of selected SVK Armed Forces members, including, notably, on-board navigators, pilots and members of the Military Intelligence. In doing so, the budget earmarked for military salaries will remain unchanged. The benefits will not be increased at the cost of other service members, nor will they result in the cuts of other positions. The proposed change is directly related to the ongoing security developments and risks and is intended to be an incentive for niche highly qualified occupational specialities.
“Once passed with the proposed legislative changes, I regard the new legislation as a positive development, one which will help stabilize active duty personnel in the Armed Forces,” said Lt Gen Milan Maxim.
The Professional Soldiers’ State Service Act will build on the Police and Military Personnel Social Welfare Amendment Act, developed by the current government. “The previous government did nothing to effect changes in this area, that’s why I’m pleased to say that we’ve succeeded in doing so,” said the Minister. He went on to remark that the bill in the first reading will be in the form as it was endorsed by the SVK government, while the second reading will incorporate the proposals by the Chief of the General Staff, which will be worked into the amending proposals of Members of Parliament.
“It would have been a non-standard practice, if we had submitted a bill without the new Chief of the General Staff reviewing it. Formulating a new, high quality amendment act has greatly mattered to us and that’s why we’ve created a sufficient space for broader debate. The outcome is a bill in agreement with service personnel and the General Staff. It wouldn’t be in my interest to submit a bill without the support of the opposition parties. Of course, this still requires agreeing on common grounds, that’s why soldiers are invited to explain their requirements comprehensibly to the public and Members of Parliament,” said SVK Minister of Defence Martin Glváč.
The bill introduces new types of active duty service – Permanent State Service and Short-Term State Service. Service personnel on active duty in the Temporary State Service may be transferred to the Permanent State Service upon completion of 17 years of service. There, they will continue to serve until the age of 55. Moreover, the bill incorporates a new military pay scale chart, enhanced by two pay grades. As a result, increases in military salaries will be distributed over an extended period of time. With this move, the SVK MOD is aiming to motivate service members to remain on active duty. However, the Armed Forces will not keep service personnel who fail to demonstrate a strong commitment. After meeting the eligibility for military retirement pay, service members will be entitled to leave the military upon request and the Service Office will be obliged to approve of their request.
Also under consideration is the option to adjust the benefits of selected SVK Armed Forces members, including, notably, on-board navigators, pilots and members of the Military Intelligence. In doing so, the budget earmarked for military salaries will remain unchanged. The benefits will not be increased at the cost of other service members, nor will they result in the cuts of other positions. The proposed change is directly related to the ongoing security developments and risks and is intended to be an incentive for niche highly qualified occupational specialities.
“Once passed with the proposed legislative changes, I regard the new legislation as a positive development, one which will help stabilize active duty personnel in the Armed Forces,” said Lt Gen Milan Maxim.
The Professional Soldiers’ State Service Act will build on the Police and Military Personnel Social Welfare Amendment Act, developed by the current government. “The previous government did nothing to effect changes in this area, that’s why I’m pleased to say that we’ve succeeded in doing so,” said the Minister. He went on to remark that the bill in the first reading will be in the form as it was endorsed by the SVK government, while the second reading will incorporate the proposals by the Chief of the General Staff, which will be worked into the amending proposals of Members of Parliament.
